<a href="http://christopherpolly.com">Christopher Polly Architect</a> transformed Sydney's tiny Cosgriff House into a gorgeous, modern, light-filled home. The Australian designer added a room underneath and behind the existing structure and left much of the original masonry intact. In so doing he expanded the footprint by a meager 20 square meters but doubled the floor area. He then carved vaulted ceilings and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/light-wells/">light wells</a> into the roof to illuminate the space naturally, and it looks like a whole new house.

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Cosgriff House by Christopher Polly Architect

The Cosgriff House used to be little more than a tiny bungalow

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Cosgriff House by Christopher Polly Architect

The client wanted an upgrade but not with undue environmental impact

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Cosgriff House by Christopher Polly Architect

The designer added a room below and behind the existing structure

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Cosgriff House by Christopher Polly Architect

The new addition only added 20 square meters to the overall footprint

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Cosgriff House by Christopher Polly Architect

Louvered shutters control solar gain and privacy

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Cosgriff House by Christopher Polly Architect

Light wells pump daylighting right to the bottom of the extended home

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Cosgriff House by Christopher Polly Architect

Several interventions promote natural ventilation

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Cosgriff House by Christopher Polly Architect

A wide open-plan living area spills out into the garden

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Cosgriff House by Christopher Polly Architect

Christopher Polly Architect transformed Sydney's tiny Cosgriff House into a gorgeous, modern, light-filled home. The Australian designer added a room underneath and behind the existing structure and left much of the original masonry intact. In so doing he expanded the footprint by a meager 20 square meters but doubled the floor area. He then carved vaulted ceilings and light wells into the roof to illuminate the space naturally, and it looks like a whole new house.